US2614816A - Condenser - Google Patents

Description

R. R. HULL 2,614,816

CONDENSER Oct. 21, 1952 Filed Feb. 24, 1947 2 SHEETS -SHEET l HVVENTUR.

205521 Q. Huu.

Oct. 21, 1952 HULL 2,614,816

CONDENSER Filed Feb. 24, 1947 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 rl en or Eosrsm 1?. Hum. 49 2/ MM liar-Jags Patented Oct. 21, 1952 T 2,614,816} I I I .coNnENs R V ltoberty In, Hall, as sAngelesp Caliii lassignor, to Engineering Controls; ,Inc., IJos. Angeles,t Calif accrporation.qtfCalifornia I v Application February-24, 1947; Serial N0?730,392?

Th1suinventionzrelates ito ass-condenser.

liked a I 1 I Atprimarymbject: of the a'inventioniis to provide an improved iheat exchangeror'condenseriwherein theheat? exchanger is divided :into two sets of I inciineditubesuoneofwhichiis adapted; to have st'eamisupplied:thereto at its lower end'andiwhich is in: communication: with then other set, at its upper end soithat ;when:steam is supplied to :the

heat cxchangers @such r'adiators; space heatersaand; the,

ioi clai ss (chasm-.469";

modification;

heati -exchangerwinismail quantitiesuorxunder light loads it Ema-y condense and be- 'deposited; in; the first set Ofl' tubes andfifiOW: therefrom counter; to: the directionioftthe flow of a steam thus effectively preventing gfre'ezinga of; the condensate in the tubes when the wheatiexchanger is subjected toverygcold temperatures: or. tovvertytcold tcooling, air. When the supply of steami isuincreased' or; the load is increasediiso-ithatg more steam is-fisupplied to. the heat exchanger: than; will I condenser in s. the first set of tubes; the excess: of "steamnwillclpass s friom the' 'upper rendiof -the rfirst setrinto the: upper-rend of the second :setlwherefurth'er condensationgwill take place. In this respectithepheatriexchanger mayubetregarded:assomewhatautom'atic;in-;that K it iautomatically increases 1 theanumber. of tubes b'eiri'g r'uscd to; condense the steam. in accordance:

with the iamount iof :steam supplied: to theadevioe; Another: obj ect of the inventionfis: i to provide a tcondensers on heat:v exchanger-mailing. :the above-:-

. 2f I trated; in section, and illustrating, a, further Figures" 5 and 6- are sectional views taken respectively. on -1ines155 andn6--6 of Figure 4., Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein, similar reference; characters designate similar: parts throughout: theiimprovedl. heat, exchanger or condenser: may be advantageously, used in conjunction .with the cooling system of an ;internal combustion engine wherein the water ofithewcooling system is maintainedatits boiling point Such internal. combustion engines, are frequently locatedwwhere their radiators oricon densersware subject 1. to atmospheric conditions W611: belowwireezing. Itis desiroustunder such circumstancesto.1.1tilize only a 1 small portion: of I the available heat: exchange area of .the vradi ator when; the engine is-"operating under: light loads andise'deliverin fln the icoolingn system but a small: quantity of: steam but to I utilize more and morevand finally the entire amount of the avail: ab1e-heat;exchange area asthe load increases and more steam is beingz supplied to the radiator to bewcondensed therein; In accordance with the presentrinvention the-;condenser1 or radiator con: sists oitwosetsof-tubes which in the form illustrated in l igshli and 2, are indicatedngenerally at I IlJ; 'and;-,I I. Eachof these sets mayconsistot an Mppenhankof tubes and 'a-lower bank although it: is;-p0,ss,ib1e'- to construct a suitable radiator whereineach: setoftubes consists of but a single bank; of tubes and: in other instances, each set may; consist ot more than .two banks of tubes; i IZ-indicatesastanh that'may form a part of or; may;=;be connected to thewater coolingsystem of thegengine;larbeing a filleropening therefor. I -In secondiset is uavoided due tovthe fact that at .the

time that the: second iset :of: tubes :is utili'zed sit-iseil ctivemvwarmedi; byr them airwtwhich" has: been warmed'sbyi passing. nioverxtheaifirstxset ofvtubesr :Withthet foregoing and" othercxobjectstinx View; which will bemade; m'anifestz inz the. following detailed descriptionlandrspecificallw pointedpgout ina the; appended xclaims; referencexis' had :ito lithe accompanying: drawings" for an; illustrative; ems bodiment:,; of :tlie invention; I wherein l 1 Figure: 1: is iauview iniside elevationysparts being? broken away: andlshown in section; I illustrating a device: embodyingtheipresentiinvention; I

Figs: 2 :is'.;atransirersez-wertical'i sectionithrought thewdevicershowninFi'g;1;: I

- Fig; 4.;iis razview; inu elevation; in parts being rillusa I bottom ofitheattan-k jlnthe water lEVGlgbBihgfifiIldifi 50 cated by. theidotted 1ine18fl Therconstruction";of

the: heat-iradiatmgrfins: :thattare; normally; provided ibetween theptubesa;istimmaterial: imsoifar; aszthe presentainvehtioncis concerneds. Thetonere atiomo-fs: the raboveadescribedcconstructiomisi as the tank [2 finds ingress to the steam passage l6 through the aperture 20. During light loads of the engine the volume of steam generated is relatively small. This steam enters the lower ends of the inclined set I l and flows upwardly therein. The direction of air flow between the tubes in this form of construction may beassumed to be upward and this-direction may be, induced ther-' mally or created by a fan or'blower; When a small amount of steam is supplied to the lower ends of the set of tubes l I, this small amount will quickly condense before the steam progresses any great distance up these tubes. Particularly is tank 25, the level of the water being indicated by the dotted line 81. Similarly condensate from i the lower bank isreturned through passage 10 this true when the temperature of the cooling air is very low. The condensate which cools on the I walls of the tubes of the lower set drains back in a counterflow direction with respect to the flow of steam and is collected by the partition l4 and returned to the water space of the tank 12 through one or more apertures 2|. Under these circumstances even if the air passing across'the tubes is very cold and is much below freezing, as the'condensate is continually flowing back counte'rcurrently to the direction of the flow of steam there is no danger of this condensate freezing in the tubes inasmuch as it flows back out of the tubes as soon as itis deposited. As the load increases and'the amount of steam supplied to the tubes increases the steam may progress farther and farther up the tubes of the lower set I l with the condensate continually flowing back down the tubes which are maintained at a temperature well above freezing by the incoming steam. When the load materially increases, however, the steam will pass through the entire length of the tubes of the lower set I l without becoming completely condensed therein." The excess of steam may then flow through tank [1 to the tubes I0 of the upper bank and becooled'and condensed therein. The condensate in "these upper tubes will flow downwardly therein concurrently withthe flow of steam therethrough' and, in many instances, in advance of the steam. This condensate is'collected by the partition I5 and is returned tothe tank [2- through the drain pipe l'B. Although the condensate in the tubes of the upper bank may flow ahead of the steam therein, it is to be observed that when these tubes are brought into operation thetubes of the lower set fll are quite warm. Consequently the cold air flowing across the tubes of the lower set is heated thereby and will serve to warm the tubes of the upper set." In this manner the condensate in the tubes of the upper set is kept from freezing even though it flows therethrough in advance of 'the steam.

- In internal combustion engines, particularly those which employ vapor phase cooling or that type of cooling wherein the cooling water is maintained at its boiling point, removal of air and other non-condensable gases from the system is necessary. To this end a vent tube 43 leads into the compartment formed by partition [5 providing an'escapeof such air and non-condensable gases from the system and it will be appreciated thatby placing the vent tube at the outflow end of thesecond set of tubes throughwhlch the vapor passes that theventtube' serves to allow air and non-condensable gases to escape fromthe system without any material-escape of vapor.

In the form. of construction illustratedin Fig. 3, there is a tank 25 which may be supplied with cooling water from the engine at its boiling point. In this tank thereare partitions-26 and 2'! which. define a steam passage 28 leading to the lower end of an mclinedbankof tubes 29. The upper to the water space of the water tank. In this form of construction when a small amount of steam is being delivered to the device this steam .enters the lower ends of the tubes of bank 29 and flows upwardly therein until condensed. Under heavy loads where larger amounts of steam are being developed, that steam which does not condense in the upper bank 29 is caused'to flow downwardly through the tubes of the lower bank 30. In the upper bank condensate flows downwardly through the tubes in a countercurrent direction with respect to the direction of the steam whereas 'in the lower bank 30 condensate flows downwardly through these tubes and may flow in advance of the steam. Where only the tubes of the upper bank are being utilized the counterfiow of condensate through steam pre.-

vents the condensate from freezing even though the cooling air may be extremely cold. When the steam supplied to the condenser increases so that the lower bank 30 is brought into operation, the condensate which flows downwardly through these tubes in advance of the steam is kept from freezing therein due to the fact that the air then passing over these tubes has been adequately heated 'byithe tubes of the upper bank 29. An inlet M'isprovided and leads directly to the tank 25 below the liquid level therein as shown by the dotted lines and an outlet 45 leads'directlyfrom tank 25 and communicates with the tankbelow the liquid level therein. 1 A vent tube 3| is preferably connected through the partition .2! to the outlet space for the lower set of tubes 30. This vent tube serves to conduct off air and other non-condensable gases that maybe introduced into the cooling system. Prefer ably this venttube is arranged in advanceof the tubes of the upper set soas to be cooled bythe air in advance of its being warmed by the tubes of the upper set. Consequently; as this vent tube tubes 35 which may consist of two banks of tubes that are vertically arranged over the'steam space.

that is immediately above the normal water'level indicated by the dotted line 82. The secondset of tubes indicated at 36 is in communication with the upper ends of the tubes of thefirstset through a cover 31. The lower ends of the tubes of the second set drain into a tank 38 from which a pipe 39 leads back to the water space inthe'water jacket. The vent tube for non-condensable .gases is indicated at 40 leading .from: the tank "38 upwardly to a point adjacentthe topof'the. conwith said reservoir, walls defining a third chamberenclosing the lower ends of the lower tubes,

said-third chamber being contained .lwithin thei first chamber and having vapor inlets in the upper-portions thereof whereby vapor from the reservoir may rise andsfiow into thethird chamber through the lower tubes toheatthe outside of the same and then through the upper tubes andinto the second chamber, an airinlet, an air outlet, said sets of tubes beingin an air. passageway which extends from said air inlet to said air outlet with the outside of said upper tubes being in an air stream which inlpassing from said air inletqto said, air outlet flows from the outside of said lower set of tubes to convey heat from the outside of said lower set to the outside of said uppersetm 6. A condenser as set out in claim wherein there are means communicating with the second chamber for allowing air and other non-condensable gases to escape. v Q

'l. A condenser-'lravingtwo sets of tubes at an angle to the horizontal, one set being positioned above the other set, means enclosing the upper ends of the tubes to allow the two sets of tubes to communicate with one another, means enclosing the lower ends'of the tubes and extending down below the lower ends of the lower tubes to provide a liquid reservoir, partition means arranged inside said chamber extending completely across the chamber :and separating the upper set of tubes from-the lower set of tubes and extending downwardly below the liquid level in the reservoir, other partition means forming an upper compartment in thechamber tor the upper set'of tubes and extending down below the liquid level in the reservoir, means providing a passage from theupper part of the chamber into the upper compartment whereby vapor rising from the reservoir is directed to flow upwardly into th upper compartment into the upper set of tubes to heat the outside of the same, the liquid condensing; in the upper set of tubes flowing downwardly between the first partition means and the second partition means to the reservoir, thevapor not condensed in the up er set of tubes allowed to flow through the lower set of tubes and the liquid condensing in the lower set of tubes allowed to outside of said upperset of tubes to the, outside of saidlowerset of tubes. w

B. A condenser as set out in claim 7 wherein there are communicating means adjacent the lower endsof the lower tubes for allowing air and other non-condensable gases to escape.

9. A condenser having two setsoftubes at an angle to the horizontal, means enclosing the up!- perxends of the tubes for communicating the upper ends of the sets of tubes with one another, means defining a chamber enclosing the lower ends of the tubes and extending down below the lower ends of the lower tubes providing a liquid reservoir, a liquid and vapor inlet for the condenser leading directly to the liquid reservoir below the liquid level therein, a liquid outlet from the condenser leading directly from said liquid reservoir below the liquid level therein, and meansdirecting 'vaporrising from the reservoir into the lower ends of one of the setsof tubes to heat the outside of the same and preventing the vapor from entering the lower ends of the other set of tubes, an air inlet, an air outlet, said sets of tubes being in an air passageway which extends from said air inlet. to said air outlet with i the outside of the other set of tubes being. in an airstream which in passing from said air inlet to said air outlet flows from the outside of said one set of tubes to convey heat from the outside of said one set to the outside of the otherset.

10. A condenser having at least two tubes at an angle to the horizontal, mean-s enclosing the. upper ends of said tubes for communicatin their upper ends with each other, said two tubes being serially connected with the lower end of one of said tubes being in communication with a steam inlet whereby steam from said inlet passes upwardly through said one tube to heat the outside of the same, the resulting condensate in said one tube gravitating back to said steam inlet in a counterflow direction where'by'said condensate may be heated by the steam entering the lower end ofv said one tube, an air inlet, an air outlet,

said two tubes being inan air passagewaywhich extends from said air inlet to said air outlet with theoutside of said other tube being in an air stream which in passing from said air inlet to said air outlet flows from the outside of said one tube to convey heat .from said outside of said one tube to the outside of said other tube to prevent freezing of condensat in said other tube.

V ROBERT R. HULL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS [Date Number Name 1 1 838,427 Lark in's-en -Q Dec. 11, 1906 1,55.8,0:09 Giesler Oct. 20,-19 25 1,639,745 Muir- Aug. 23, 1927 2,229,032 Ashley. Jan. 21, 1941 2,449,11 Q I Eells Sept. 14, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS.

Number Country Date 404,517 Great'Britain s QJan.18, 1934 710,38'1 France 'June 8,1931"- 778,155 France Dec. 15, 1934 805,234 1 France Aug. 17; 1936

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